"Oh gosh… I hate this girl," she muttered under her breath.
Fiona.
Of course, it was her.
Angela walked straight up to her without hesitation and snatched the clothes from her hand.
"Don't ever touch my things again," she said sharply, shoving the clothes back into her bag.
Fiona smirked, clearly unfazed.
"Really?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "I've always known you were a slut. I mean… what else would you be doing with clothes like that?"
She turned to the rest of the class, her smirk widening.
"Class, I think this poor thing is desperate for money. Don't you think so?"
Laughter erupted around the room.
Angela stood there, her jaw tight, her anger simmering beneath the surface as the sound echoed around her.
"Poor Angela… or whatever you call yourself," Julie said with a mocking smile as she stepped forward. "You have no right to yell at us, you know. We were only trying to help, that's why we checked your bag. Poor thing."
Julie was one of Fiona's closest allies, always ready to back her up.
"Honestly," Lisa added, folding her arms with a look of disgust, "this girl is nothing but a prostitute. Now I understand why no one wants to be close to her."
A few students gasped, while others whispered among themselves.
Angela's chest tightened.
"I'm not ready for any of this," she said quietly, her voice strained as she picked up her bag and turned to leave.
She didn't want trouble, not today, not ever.
But just as she took a step forward, Fiona grabbed her arm and yanked her back violently, her fingers tangling into Angela's hair.
"You think you can just walk away?" Fiona snapped.
"You bitch!" Angela cried out in pain as she instinctively grabbed Fiona's hair in return.
Within seconds, the two girls were on the ground.
Their hands tangled in each other's hair, pulling hard, refusing to let go. They rolled across the floor, struggling for control, their movements frantic and unrestrained. Angela tried to push Fiona away, but Fiona held tight, yanking her hair with force.
The classroom erupted into chaos.
Some students shouted. Others cheered. A few stood frozen, unsure of what to do.
Julie and Lisa seized the moment.
They rushed forward, landing hits on Angela while she struggled to defend herself. The noise grew louder, chairs scraping, voices rising, tension filling the air.
Just then, the classroom door swung open. Mr. Brandon stepped in and froze; shock flashed across his face as he took in the scene before him.
"What is going on here?!" he shouted.
The room fell silent almost immediately.
"You girls, stop this at once!" he barked.
Angela and Fiona were pulled apart, both breathing heavily, their uniforms dishevelled.
"You will follow me to the principal's office," Mr. Brandon said sternly. "Right now. You're going to explain everything."
At the Principal's Office
Angela and Fiona knelt on the floor; their heads slightly bowed as Mr. Brandon explained what had happened.
"Fiona is becoming too troublesome," he said with a sigh. "This isn't the first time."
The principal leaned back in his chair, his expression hard and unforgiving.
"Well," he began slowly, "both of you will serve two weeks of detention, starting today."
Angela's head snapped up slightly.
"No classes," he continued. "You will report by 8 a.m. and remain until 5 p.m."
He turned his gaze to Fiona.
"You have been nothing but disrespectful. Your teachers have complained repeatedly."
Then his eyes shifted to Angela.
"And you… you must be the new student. Let me make one thing clear, we do not raise animals in this school. We train disciplined, noble students who are here to learn."
Angela felt the words hit harder than any slap.
"Fiona," the principal continued, "you will be responsible for cleaning the large hall."
Then he pointed toward Angela.
"And you will clean the school garden and surroundings. I don't want to see a single fallen leaf left on the ground. The disciplinarian will supervise both of you."
He paused.
"That will be all."
"Sir, please..." Angela spoke quickly, her voice trembling. "Fiona started it. I can explain."
"Enough!" the principal thundered. "Be quiet and leave my office!"